Chapter 184: Allison softly closed her eyes, mentally chastising herself for her carelessness. Now that she had been discovered, the very notion of hiding felt like chasing shadows. She slowly opened the cabinet door, putting on an innocent smile.

"Mr. Lloyd," she said, "what a surprise to find you here."

Kellan's cold, unyielding demeanor softened at the sight of her, leaving him momentarily speechless. He struggled to comprehend why she would be lurking in this forbidden nook. The air was thick with awkwardness.

A coincidence, perhaps? Yet, everyone knew it was far from random.

Breaking the weighty silence, Allison cleared her throat twice. "I accidentally stumbled in here," she said. "I swear, I wasn't trying to spy on you." Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, but Kellan was no fool. How could he possibly believe that? This was a restricted section of the Lloyd estate, accessible only through a hidden passage.

However, he chose not to dwell on her presence; what truly mattered was… "It truly is a coincidence," he said.

Kellan scanned the lavish decor of the room before locking his gaze onto Allison's eyes. Any rational person would find the scene repulsive, yearning to disappear. He sought a hint of disgust in her expression, yet all he found was clarity, almost transparent, captivating and puzzling him.

In a gravelly voice, Kellan asked, "When did you arrive?"

"Before you did," Allison replied, her confidence unwavering. "Apologies, I intended to leave sooner, but I felt a bit embarrassed. I never thought I would be discovered."

"Sooner?" Kellan's face remained stoic, but his fingers curled into fists. Allison, however, radiated an air of calm. In a playful tone, she attempted to downplay the situation.

"This was rather presumptuous of me, but I hope you won't read too much into it. Besides, you have quite the physique, and having needs is only human. I should be the one thanking you for the view."

Kellan refused to let it slide. He held her gaze, intensity crackling between them. "Allison, don't you find this disgusting?" He gestured toward the eclectic items scattered around the room and scrutinized her expression.

But Allison merely arched an eyebrow, her eyes bright, revealing no revulsion, only surprise. "What's there to be disgusted about? It's all perfectly natural. Preferences are not for others to judge."

In truth, Allison preferred to avoid the topic, so she brushed it off. "Besides, Mr. Lloyd, with your impressive physique and wealth, even if you have such preferences, plenty of women would be more than interested. So rest easy; I will keep this under wraps…"

Before she could finish, Kellan interjected. He met her gaze with intensity. "Other than you… and Lorna, there are no other women in my life."

Allison was taken aback. She was assuring him of her discretion; why was Kellan contradicting her? Their thoughts seemed galaxies apart.

Noticing her silence, Kellan pressed on. "And besides you, I haven't been intimate with any other woman."

Allison blinked. "Well, Mr. Lloyd, you have quite the self-discipline." Actually, she didn't think Kellan needed to explain this to her.

But Kellan seemed to misinterpret her words, frowning. "Ms. Clarke, you misunderstand. These items are not prepared for women, but…" Kellan hesitated.

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